Press switch having a snap fit fork between the body and control member

ABSTRACT

A press switch comprising a control assembly, at least one body for containing the electrical contact elements of the switch, and at least a fork means for snap fitting with said control assembly and said at least one body, respectively.

llnite States Patent Inventor Angelo Teruzzi Milan, Italy Appl. No. 19,723 Filed Mar. 16, 1970 Patented Dec. 7, 1971 Assignee Breter S.P.A.

Milan, Italy Priority Mar. 26, 1969 Italy 14597 A/69 PRESS SWITCH HAVING A SNAP FIT FORK BETWEEN THE BODY AND CONTROL MEMBER 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

11.8. C1 200/168 R, 200/ 1 59 R Int. Cl 1101b 9/02, HOlh 13/04 Field 011 Search 200/159 R,

172 A, 168 C, 167 A, 168R Mil e l,

lt!!!" a [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,473,252 6/1949 l-lutt 200/159 R X 2,979,593 4/1961 White 200/159 R 3,215,800 11/1965 Hurteret a1. 200/168CUX FOREIGN PATENTS 1,485,615 5/1967 France 200/159 R 1,173,158 7/1964 Germany 200/172 A Primary Examiner- Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner- Robert A. Vanderhye Attorneys-Robert E. Burns and Emmanuel .1. Lobato ABSTRACT: A press switch comprising a. control assembly, at least one body for containing the electrical contact elements of the switch, and at least a fork means for snap fitting with said control assembly and said at least one body, respectively.

PATENTED DEC 7 |97i PRESS SWITCH HAVING A SNAP FIT FORK BETWEEN THE BODY AND CONTROL MEMBER This invention relates to a press switch comprising a plurality of snap interfittable parts.

More particularly, the press switch according to the present invention comprises a control assembly, a body for containing the contact elements of the pushbutton and a substantially H- shaped cross-sectional fork, serving to snap interfit said control assembly and body.

According to a feature of the press switch of the present invention, the snap fit of the parts is made reliable by providing suitably formed seatings and readily fulfilled by providing guiding inclined surfaces, causing the fork legs to spread prior to snapping thereof, due to the resiliency of the material said fork is made of, within the proper seatings in said control member and body, respectively.

A further feature of the press switch according to the invention is in that the control assembly can operate a single switch, or'a set of switches associated with one another.

These and other features of the press switch according to the invention will be more apparent as the following description proceeds, reference being made to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. l is an exploded perspective view of a press switch according to the invention, the electrical parts having been removed;

FIG. 2 is an exploded side view, partly frontal and partly sectional view, for the switch in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of the switch in FIG. 1, in part assembly.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the press switch according to the invention substantially comprises a control assembly, designated as a whole at l, at least one body 2 for containing the contact elements (not shown) of the switch, and at least one snap fit element, commonly referred to as a fork, designated as a whole at 3. In FIG. 1, there are shown two forks 3 and two bodies 2, it being contemplated that the control assembly will operate a plurality of associated switches, it being however possible to install a single switch by eliminating one fork and one of said bodies.

As it will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control assembly 1 substantially comprises a flange or base portion 4 provided with a hollow neck 5, within which a pushbutton 6 is slidably mounted. The neck is externally threaded and thereon a ring nut 7 is screwed to secure the switch, as clearly shown in FIG. 2. Pushbutton 6 has a tang 6 on which a toroidal seal 8 is threaded and at the lower end of which a plate 9 is attached, this plate 9 operating the control rods for the contacts (not shown).

On the two opposite sides of flange 4, two T-shaped seatings l0 and 11, respectively, are provided, into which the corresponding T-shaped side legs carried by the fit fork 3 will insert, as more clearly explained in the following description.

Each of the T-shaped seatings l0 and 11 are provided with guiding surfaces 12, forwardly and upwardly inclined, aiding in spreading the fit legs offork 3.

Each fork 3 is provided with a pair of side upper legs 13 and 14, likewise the T-shaped seatings on flange 4 are intended to be snap inserted into the pair of opposite seatings or 11, respectively, of said flange. Fork 3 has also a pair of lower legs 15 and 16, fast with the upper legs through a cross-partition 17, said lower legs snap fitting with the body 2 for accommodating the contact elements. Fork 2 is also provided with tangs 22, which are parallel and spaced apart from the lower legs 15 and I6 and which insert into suitable holes in body 2, thus aiding a good sealing of the fork.

To this end, legs 15 and 16 are provided at the lower ends thereof with inwardly projecting portions 18 and 19, which are located at different levels and snap fit with corresponding recessed seatings 20 and 21, respectively, as provided on the side and bottom of each body 2. The projecting portions 18 and 19 are internally downwardly tapered to initially promote the legs spreading. As seen in FIG. 1 projection 18 is both inwardly and outwardly directed with respect to the fork in order to provide a larger sealing surface.

Body 2 is suitably shaped to contain the contact elements (not shown) and has the above-mentioned side seatings 20 and 21.

The assembly of the parts will now be briefly described.

After the contact elements have been inserted in the position thereof into body 2, fork 3 is placed on body 2, so that the lower legs 15 and 16 bear on the sides of body 2, the control assembly 1 is then placed on fork 3, so that the seatings l0 and 11 in flange 4 will be aligned with the associated upper legs of the fork. Then, by forcing the parts against one another, the relative longitudinal sliding is caused for the fit legs, which spread because of said inclined surfaces. When the elements have reached the location thereof, the legs of fork 3 being fully spread, as clearly shown in FIG. 3, by further forcing the snap is caused for the legs within the associated seatings, interfitting the several parts comprising the switch.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the switchcomprising parts can be fitted without using rivets, screws, gluing or other similar fastening means, thus rendering the assembly operation easier and quicker.

Of course, what has been stated above and shown in the appended drawings is given by way of nonlimiting example and other modified forms of snap fitting may be made without departing for this from the scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrical switch comprising a body for containing electrical contact elements of the switch, said body having recessed seats on opposite sides thereof, a control assembly comprising a base portion having recessed seats on opposite sides thereof and an operating member for operating said switch, said control assembly being superposed on said body and a one-piece connecting fitting formed of resilient material and comprising a partition portion between said body and said control assembly, two upwardly projecting legs at opposite sides of said partition portion snap fitting into said seats of said base portion of said control assembly, and two downwardly projecting legs at opposite sides of said partition portion snap fitting into said seats of said body, all of said legs being integral with said partition portion.

2. A switch according to claim 1, in which said seats in said base portion of said control assembly have inclined ramp portions for spreading said upwardly projecting legs of said connecting fitting when said control assembly is pushed toward said body in assembling the switch.

3. A switch according to claim 1, :in which said upwardly projecting legs of said connecting fitting are T-shaped with a stem portion and a crossbar portion, and in which said seats in said base portion of the control assembly are T-shaped recesses comprising a stem portion and a crossbar portion to receive said upwardly projecting legs.

4. A switch according to claim 3, in which inclined ramp portions are provided at opposite sides of the stem portions of said recesses for engaging end portions of said crossbar portions of said upwardly projecting legs for spreading said legs when said control assembly is pushed toward said body in assembling the switch.

5. A switch according to claim 1, in which each of said downwardly projecting legs has two inwardly projecting portions at different levels engaging in correspondingly located recesses in said body.

6. A switch according to claim 1, in which said connecting fitting further comprises tangs projecting downwardly from said partition portion and received in openings in said body;

7. A switch according to claim 1, in which said operating member comprises a pushbutton reciprocable relative to said base portion of said control assembly. 

1. An electrical switch comprising a body for containing electrical contact elements of the switch, said body having recessed seats on opposite sides thereof, a control assembly comprising a base portion having recessed seats on opposite sides thereof and an operating member for operating said switch, said control assembly being superposed on said body and a one-piece connecting fitting formed of resilient material and comprising a partition portion between said body and said control assembly, two upwardly projecting legs at opposite sides of said partition portion snap fitting into said seats of said base portion of said control assembly, and two downwardly projecting legs at opposite sides of said partition portion snap fitting into said seats of said body, all of said legs being integral with said partition portion.
 2. A switch according to claim 1, in which said seats in said base portion of said control assembly have inclined ramp portions for spreading said upwardly projecting legs of said connecting fitting when said control assembly is pushed toward said body in assembling the switch.
 3. A switch according to claim 1, in which said upwardly projecting legs of said connecting fitting are T-shaped with a stem portion and a crossbar portion, and in which said seats in said base portion of the control assembly are T-shaped recesses comprising a stem portion and a crossbar portion to receive said upwardly projecting legs.
 4. A switch according to claim 3, in which inclined ramp portions are provided at opposite sides of the stem portions of said recesses for enGaging end portions of said crossbar portions of said upwardly projecting legs for spreading said legs when said control assembly is pushed toward said body in assembling the switch.
 5. A switch according to claim 1, in which each of said downwardly projecting legs has two inwardly projecting portions at different levels engaging in correspondingly located recesses in said body.
 6. A switch according to claim 1, in which said connecting fitting further comprises tangs projecting downwardly from said partition portion and received in openings in said body;
 7. A switch according to claim 1, in which said operating member comprises a pushbutton reciprocable relative to said base portion of said control assembly. 